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Fluctuations of grasshopper populations on aMiscanthus sinensis grassland

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Researches on Population Ecology

Summary

Population densities of the three grasshopper species onMiscanthus sinensis grassland in the Kawatabi IBP Area, Japan,Parapleurus alliaceus, Mongolotettix japonicus andChorthippus latipennis, were estimated principally by the release-and-recapture method for five years from 1968 to 1972.

The total number of individuals of all three grasshopper species was about 42 per 100m2 in August. The number of individuals ofP. alliaceus adult, the dominant species on this grassland, showed a tendency to decline during the five years, though the amplitude was not so large. The number of eggs laid was, however, nearly constant and the mortality from the second nymphal instar to adult was relatively low and constant during the survey period. The weather conditions during the periods of egg and the first instar, such as snowfall and temperature decreasing, are suggested to be one of the factors causing variation in numbers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Nishigahara, Kita-ku, 114, Tokyo, Japan

    Kazuo Nakamura

  2. Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Setagaya-ku, 158, Tokyo, Japan

    Masako Nakamura & Tadao Matsumoto

  3. Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station, Sakiyama-cho, 903, Naha, Japan

    Yosiaki Itô

Authors
  1. Kazuo Nakamura
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  2. Masako Nakamura
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  3. Tadao Matsumoto
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  4. Yosiaki Itô
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Additional information

Contributions from JIBP-CT No. 145. A part of this study was supported by the special project, “Studies on the dynamic status of biosphere”, sponsored by the Ministry of Education.

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Nakamura, K., Nakamura, M., Matsumoto, T. et al. Fluctuations of grasshopper populations on aMiscanthus sinensis grassland. Res Popul Ecol 16, 198–206 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02511060

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02511060

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